Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-01

that new County buildings, ad-
mitted to be necessary for the
public use, erected at the County
seat-by order of the County
Board, are built "in the particular
interest" of the County seat
The County Poor farm was selec-
ted and purchased in behalf of
the County by committee of
three appointed by the County
Board, with full power to select
the location and make the pur-
chase, subject to certain restric-
tions as to price. The committee
had power to locate the farm any
where in the County, as they
might deem best. This commit
tee unanimously, as the record
shows, selected and purchased the
present Poor farm. Charles Il.
Coon, Esq, of Marshfeld, a0as a
member Of that committee. Was it
selected in the particular inter
ests' of Grand Rapids and Cen
tralia, and to tasten the present
County Seat? If it was, as Mr..
Coon now asserts, let him rise and
explain" how this selfish policy
was permitted to succeed, not
only without his protest, but with
his express approval?
Continuing a wholesale raillery
against Grand Rapids and Contra
liza with no material variations,
Mr.. Coon warns the supervisors
not to favor a system of county
roads; that it is an old scheme,
and if adopted will benefit these
cities at the expense of the towns
and SO on, to the end. 1t seems
not little singular to an ordinary
mind that to build a road, from
Marshfeld to Pittsville, for in
stance, or from Auburndale or
Milladore to Vesper, will benefit
Grand Rapids and Centralia more
than the country through which
the road will run, and the local.
ties connected by it. To build
roads in any region of the county
where they are needed, or would
be used by the people if built, will
benefit most of all the immediate
localities through and between
which they run. In correspond
ing way they will benefit the
whole county, because to benefit
a part is to benefit the whole. In
this way and no other would these
cities be benefited by the policy
suggested. Many people here
would be glad to see such policy
inaugurated and carried on within
such limits and restraints as would
guarantee an honest expenditure
of the money, and at a cost not
sufficient to become oppressive to
the taxpayers. But if Mr.. Coon
speaks the deliberate sentiments
of the people of the Towns upon
the subject; if it is true that no
localities desire or need County
aid, it will hardly be the policy of
these cities to force it upon them.
Thus far the assaults upon
Grand Rapids and Centralia and
their people, have rested upon
assertion, pure and simple. 1t is
a principle of fairness as we'll as
of law, that he who charges a
wrong will be required to prove it.;
otherwise the charge must fall. In
dealing with Messrs. Lathrop and
Coon to this time, | have treated
their unsupported assertions as
legitimate argument, and taken
the burden of proving af6rmatively
that such assertions were untrue.
This involves some labor and re-
quires some time. l shall not
feel bound to do so in future. /
may do it, and will, if l shall have
occasion, and deem it of sufficient
consequence. Otherwise, it is to
be hoped that the people, who
always mean to be just, will de-
cline to adjudge communities or
individuals guilty of bad faith and
serious misconduct without at
least some evidence to support
such conclusion.
GEO. r. GARDNER.